Clothesline prop with capping and line engaging clip



3, 1954 J. G. JOHANSON 2,685,424

CLOTHESLINE! PROP WITH CAPPING AND LINE ENGAGING CLIP Filed May 3, 1951 Mel 6. Johanson IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 3, 1954 CLOTHESLINE PROP WITH CAPPING AND LINE ENGAGING CLIP Joel G. J chanson, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 3, 1951, Serial No. 224,279

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in clothesline props and poles and has more particular reference to a novel clip which, when capped and fastened over the usual forked upper end of the prop, provides a simple, practical and reliable separable connection between the prop and the clothesline with which it is connected.

It is a matter of common knowledge that many and varied styles and forms of line engaging and prop holding devices are in use. They differ from one another primarily along constructional lines. Without attempting to, in any manner, typify these prior art constructions, it will be plain, from the present disclosure, that it is an object of the instant invention to structurally, functionally and otherwise improve on known devices by providing an especially designed clip which, comparatively speaking, is possessed of refinements and distinctions which, additively considered, provide a superior clothesline engaging clip.

In addition to providing a clip which is unique and easily applied and removed, a construction is had in which, it is believed, manufacturers and users will find their respective requirements and needs fully met, satisfactorily contained, and effectually available.

Briefly, the improved pole capping and line engaging clip is of U-shaped form and embodies broad spaced parallel limbs and a bight portion interconnecting corresponding ends of said limbs, said bight portion having a depending v-shaped line seating keeper located midway between said limbs, the remaining ends of said limbs projecting well beyond the crotch of said keeper, the components of said bight portion on opposite sides of the center line of said keeper inclining and converging toward said center line, providing guides and overhanging the crotch of the keeper and defining a restricted line passage and line retaining hooks.

More specifically, the invention has to do with a broad, fiat, sheet metal strap bent intermediate its ends into inverted U-shaped form and embodying a pair of duplicate spaced parallel attaching limbs and a bight portion joining corresponding ends of said limbs, said bight portion being bent centrally into 2. depending V-shaped line seating keeper, said keeper embodying a crotch and upwardly diverging side members, the latter having opposed return bends directed toward each other and terminating on opposite sides of said crotch, the components of said bight portion inclining toward the terminals of said return bends, defining piloting guides and joining said terminals by way of convex crooks, the latter being spaced in proximal parallelism and delining a restricted line passage, said return bends underlying said guides and said guides and return bends uniting in providing line-confining hooks.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the complemental sheet of drawmgs.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothes pole or prop attached to a clotheslinewherein the upper forked or notched end of the prop is provided with the improved line engaging and prop holding clip;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the clip per se; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken approximately upon the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Referring now to Figure 1, the prop or pole is denoted by the numeral 4 and it is of wood or the like and is preferably rectangular in cross section and provides longitudinal flat sides 6 and 8. It has a lower end I!) which is suitably constructed to rest on the ground or other supporting surface. The upper end is forked, that is, provided with a V-shaped line seating notch 12, as shown best in Figure 3. The notch has the usual central vertex or crotch seat and outwardly and upwardly diverging walls or surfaces. The improved wear-proofing, protecting and reinforcing clip is denoted by the numeral M. This is preferably constructed from a broad metal band or so-called fiat strap metal. The clip is adapted to cap over the notch 12 in the manner best shown in Figure 3. Said clip is formed from a single length of strap metal which is bent between its ends into general U-shaped form. It may therefore be described as embodying a pair of duplicate, spaced, parallel attaching limbs l6 and i8 having holes 20-20. When the clip is in place, it straddles the top and the limbs l6 and I8 extend along the sides 6 and 8 where they are fastened in place by wood screws or the like 22. The bight portion of the clip joins the corresponding upper ends of the limbs and this is especially designed and fashioned in the manner illustrated. That is to say, the intermediate part of the bight portion is bent upon itself to define a substantially V-shaped line seating keeper 24 (see Figure 2).

This includes a vertex or crotch 26 and a pair of upwardly and outwardly diverging side members 28 and 3t of duplicate construction. The upper portion of the keeper provides a mouth and the metal is formed into a pair of lateral opposed return bends 32 and 34. The components of the bight portion, denoted by the numerals 36 and 38, are slightly inclined inwardly and downwardly and provide line piloting guides, said guides leading into the intake mouth of the keeper. The opposed edges of the guides are spaced apart and join the return bends 32 and 34 by way of spaced parallel convex crooks 40 and 42. The return bends 32 and 34 and the guides 36 and 38, plus the joining webs or crooks 40 and 42 not. only unite the keeper with the bight portion but coact with each other in defining safety hooks. The bill portions of the hooks, more specifically, the crooks '48 and 42, overlie the mouth portion of the keeper. As shown best in Figure 3, they terminate on lines opposite an imaginary line intersecting the crotch or vertex 26..

In practice, the keeper fits into the fork l2 and lines the crotch of the latter and also partially lines the outwardly converging Walls or surfaces, thus wear-proofing and protecting the surfaces.

Novelty is predicated on the clip per se and also clip in combination with the forked prop.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

As a new article of manufacture, a clothesline prop capping and line engaging clip comprising a broad flat sheet material strap bent intermediate its ends into inverted U-shaped form and embodying a pair of duplicate spaced parallel attaching limbs and a bight portion joining corresponding ends of said limbs, said bight portion being bent centrally into a depending V-shaped line seating keeper, said keeper embodying a crotch and upwardly diverging side members, the latter having opposed return bends directed to- Ward each other and terminating on opposite sides of said crotch, the components of said bight portion inclining toward the terminals of said return bends, defining piloting guides and joining said terminals by way of convex crooks, the latter being spaced in proximal parallelism and defining a restricted line passage, said return bends underlying said, guides and said guides and return bends uniting in providing line confining hooks.

References Cited in the file of' this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain of 1924 

